The week of their wedding, Kristin said a common prayer to an unusual person: She asked for pleasant weather from her grandfather. "The day he passed away, a red cardinal showed up on my grandmother's stoop," the bride recalls. "Ever since, we just associate cardinals with him. The day before the wedding, I went for a run and a red cardinal flew right in front of me. I know he was watching over us, and the rain stopped just in time for a perfect cocktail hour and unforgettable reception."

Kristin and Michael's magical Long Island wedding took the bride more than a year to plan. "I lived and breathed this day for exactly a year and four months. This is no exaggeration," she jokes. "Just ask Mike!" From the moment Michael dropped to one knee inside the couple's apartment to the seconds before Kristin walked the aisle at St. Peters Church of Alcantara, the bride scrutinized and selected every detail to create an affair that was "a reflection of us as a couple," Kristin says. "Part of my day job is planning and executing events. Obviously, this was the biggest and most important event I ever planned, so it weighed heavy on my heart."

When Michael read his vows to Kristin, he recognized her dedication to their big day. "The endless work you have put into this day for the both of us just shows me the type of girl I am marrying," he said. "Once again, you are the best thing that ever happened to me."

Photo: Mackler Studios

The couple wed inside Michael's childhood church. "We wanted a piece of both of our worlds to be a part of our special day," Kristin says. Her piece? The couple's reception venue, Seawanhaka Corinthian Yacht Club. "Since we both spent every summer growing up on Long Island beaches, this was the perfect location for us. My best friend's parents are members at the club—I immediately fell in love with it years ago at first sight when she brought me as a guest to sail with her family."

The yacht club became the inspiration behind the couple's wedding. "Seawanhaka has classic beauty that transcends time and space," the bride says. "We wanted to blow our guests away with this location." Because the yacht club already "screamed nautical," Kristin says, the couple used "natural elements infused with rustic, romantic touches" to enhance the venue and set the tone for the event.

Photo: Mackler Studios

Kristin's mother drew the couple's save the date—a watercolor-like picture of the beach and a pair of classic Adirondack chairs. "People actually wanted to hang and keep these on their refrigerators," Kristin says.

Photo: Mackler Studios

Kristin and her five bridesmaids readied at the yacht club, enjoying Champagne before the bride slipped into her ivory organza Vera Wang gown. "What girl doesn't want to wear Vera on their special day?" she asks. "I feel lucky and fortunate to have been able to. It felt paper thin on my body, and was airy and light—perfect for a hot summer wedding. I appreciate the design, craftsmanship and articulate beauty of every detail that went into the design and execution of this dress."

Yet the gown—perfect as it was—needed one small addition."I had a piece of my late grandfather's flannel shirt sewn into the bottom of my dress," the bride says. "One of my fondest memories as a child is cuddling against the signature plaid shirts he always wore when he would hold me. I was extremely close to him, and wanted to make sure he was a part of our day and close to me throughout the day."

Photo: Mackler Studios

Bridesmaids wore soft gray silk chiffon sheaths from J. Crew, and carried tight, round bouquets of green and apricot roses. The bride's bouquet, a mix of green roses and ladies mantle, was wrapped with rope. "It really added to that rustic, romantic, vintage feel," Kristin says. "I added my mother's cameo that my father gave to her when they were 14 and started dating. I look up to their marriage, and I hope to have the same thing in mine someday."